EASTMAN NOTES JANUARY 2006 Draft: Fourth Date: 1/15/2006 INSIDE
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JANUARY 2006 A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI OF THE EASTMAN SCHOOL OF MUSIC FROM THE DIRECTOR The “Eastman Ideal” Dear Eastman Alumni: We are guided at Eastman by a mission devoted to artistry, scholarship, leadership and community. Initially George Eastman and Rush Rhees, then NOTES University President, conceived of a music conservatory within a university Volume 24, Number 1 setting, which would stimulate the artist/scholar, the “thinking artist,” January 2006 so to speak. Howard Hanson would embrace this ideal and then challenge students and Editor faculty to engage themselves in innovation and the issues of their communi- David Raymond ties. Successive generations of Eastman alumni, faculty, and administration Assistant editor have emulated these admirable qualities. Juliet Grabowski Now, however, we are all called to a more aggressive leadership, a more Contributing writers significant commitment to community, while also attaining higher and higher Martial Bednar Sally Cohen levels of artistic and academic expertise. The dramatic Johannes Müller-Stosch transitional aspects of the current music world demand Howard Potter our attention and dedication like never before. The Russell Scarbrough “Eastman Ideal” can and must offer ideas and solu- Contributing photographers tions to today’s cultural challenges. In my Convocation Richard Baker address (in this issue; see p. 13) I call for zealotry Kurt Brownell Gelfand-Piper Photography from our students. In this message, I call to the whole Annette Lein Eastman family for the same. Nathan Martel The Eastman School of Music strives: Andy Olenick • To give the student an intensive professional edu- Christian Steiner John Widman cation in his/her musical discipline; Jerry Wolf • To prepare each student with a solid foundation in music and an expansive education in the liberal arts; Photography coordinator James Undercofler Nathan Martel • To develop an informed and inquiring mind that Design enables each graduate to engage the fundamental issues of his or her art and to Steve Boerner Typography & Design become an effective cultural leader in society; • And, through its community and continuing education programs, to offer Published twice a year by the Office of the highest quality music instruction and performance opportunities for stu- Communications, Eastman School of Music, 26 Gibbs Street, Rochester, NY, dents of all ages. 14604, (585) 274-1050. [email protected] Printed on recycled paper: 100% recycled fibers, 50% post consumer waste, processed chlorine-free. James Undercofler PHOTOGRAPHS BY GELFAND-PIPER PHOTOGRAPHY (TOP) AND KURT BROWNELL Project number: 2005005 Project: EASTMAN NOTES JANUARY 2006 Draft: Fourth Date: 1/15/2006 INSIDE FEATURES 5 Music first, everything else second Chuck Daellenbach receives ESM’s Alumni Achievement Award on May 15, 2005 8 Healing history’s wounds Eastman students play in a concert marking the 60th anniversary of Hiroshima bombing 15 Permanent splendor EASTMAN’S STUNNING NEW ITALIAN BAROQUE ORGAN, INSTALLED LAST SUMMER Eastman’s Italian Baroque organ brings AT THE MEMORIAL ART GALLERY, SOUNDS AS BEAUTIFUL AS IT LOOKS 15 18th-century art, music and history into the 21st century 18 “Dear Lou ...” The irreplaceable Alec Wilder and the “letters he never mailed” to Lou Ouzer CONVOCATION 13 The intrinsic power of music, today Turning virtuoso musicians into visionary zealots ROBERT WARD BRINGS 50 YEARS EASTMAN MUSICIANS BRING CONVERSATION 27 OF OPERATIC EXPERTISE TO EASTMAN’S 8 THE ST. MATTHEW PASSION PRODUCTION OF HIS CLAUDIA LEGARE TO HIROSHIMA 17 Robert Ward: “I am completely eclectic!” The Crucible composer (BM ’39) visits Eastman 2 COMING EVENTS 3 LETTERS 4 CORRECTIONS 23 SCHOOL NEWS 32 IN TRIBUTE CELEBRATING 35 ALUMNI NOTES 18 THE BUBBLY 39 EASTMAN ALUMNI ON CD FRIENDSHIP OF ALEC WILDER AND 44 SHOWING OFF LOU OUZER 50 FACULTY NOTES 51 EASTMAN FACULTY ON CD 52 STUDENT NOTES ON THE COVER: Eastman’s Italian Baroque organ, brought from Germany to Rochester in July 2005, is now the ON THE INTERNET: More news about the Eastman School of Music, magnificent focal point of the Memorial Art Gallery’s Fountain Court. Photograph by Andy Olenick. including the full text of Notes and expanded alumni information, can be found online at www.esm.rochester.edu. PHOTOGRAPHS BY GELFAND-PIPER PHOTOGRAPHY (HANS DAVIDSSON, ROBERT WARD) AND LOUIS OUZER (ALEC WILDER) Project number: 2005005 Project: EASTMAN NOTES JANUARY 2006 Draft: Fourth Date: 1/15/2006 Coming Events Did you know… February 16, 2006 • Get the Eastman Edge and Alarm Will Sound concert, New York City The Eastman School has a March 27–31, 2006 planned giving society? • Women in Music Festival April 6–9, 2006 HE KILBOURN SOCIETY recognizes • Eastman Opera Theatre: individuals whose support of the Eastman Massenet: Cendrillon (Cinderella) T School will be realized through a will April 20, 2006 provision, a life-income gift, or other type of gift • Alumni Reception at MENC, planning vehicle. These commitments are essential Salt Lake City to the School, helping to ensure its future financial May 2006 health and well-being. • 25th Anniversary of Kneisel Lieder Competition The Society humbly carries the name June–August 2006 of Maria Kilbourn Eastman, mother • Summer Session of George Eastman. Her legacy of unwavering support to her son July 2–6, 2006 • Alumni Reception at American provided him “with the stability Guild of Organists Convention, at the core of his existence, from Chicago which he could soar into the July–August 2006 heady atmosphere of risk taking • Glimmerglass Opera, and adventure.” Cooperstown, NY: premiere performances of The Greater The Kilbourn Society perpetuates a Good by Stephen Hartke, parallel legacy, providing the stability commissioned by Hanson from which the School will forever Institute for American Music fulfill its mission. September 13–17, 2006 • Festival Honoring the Centenary of Dmitri Shostakovich and 10th Anniversary of the Death of Mieczyslaw Weinberg Eastman Weekend for more information, contact October 20–22, 2006 Karen A. Amico, Director of Individual Giving Eastman School of Music Save the date and make your plans to return to Rochester. For the (585) 274-1040 / [email protected] entire Eastman community: alumni, http://rochester.plannedgifts.org students and parents, faculty and staff. Combining the best of Alumni Weekend, Reunion, Family Weekend, and Eastman Community Music Maria Kilbourn School Open House. You won’t Eastman want to miss the music, the recon- nections, and the fun! PHOTO COURTESY GEORGE EASTMAN HOUSE Eastman Notes | January 2006 2005013 Kilbourn Society Ad.indd1 1 12/23/05 12:28:07 AM Project number: 2005005 Project: EASTMAN NOTES JANUARY 2006 Draft: Fourth Date: 1/15/2006 LETTERS work with the orchestra was Carmina Burana, A pioneering and he chose the Macalester Choir to per- woman composer '(-, form the work. We had a good time talking about old times during his rehearsals. As an Eastman woman graduate, I was in- I last saw him while I was teaching in terested in the letter from composer Nancy Wisconsin and was invited by him to par- Hays Van de Vate (December 2004, p. 3) ticipate in the WSMA Convention at the regarding early female recipients of doctor- University of Wisconsin-Madison. Again ates in music composition in the U.S. It par- he made time from his busy schedule to sit ticularly caught my attention because I may down and talk over what I was doing and have studied with another—Dr. Ruth Shaw how I got to Wisconsin. Wylie, a composer and then-recent Eastman These were wonderful times for me and I graduate—at Missouri University. Columbia, will miss him very much. MO, starting in 1943. Likewise, Ruth was a tower of strength I cannot vouch for her degree but do re- @KD;(&&+ 7C7=7P?D;<EH7BKCD?E<J>;;7IJC7DI9>EEBE<CKI?9 for me while I was working on my thesis. Dr. call comments Dr. Wylie made regarding [Allen] McHose requested I take up the topic her study with Howard Hanson and of his of Cyril Scott, the English composer, as this remarkable ability to identify with the varied one of the guest conductors was Mr. Fennell. was a large gap in his attempt to make all in- styles of his students, even when they were In the 1990s, after I had retired, I enjoyed formation available to students in his Styles quite different from his own. If her doctorate Professor Fennell’s guest appearance leading course. Ruth sent off for materials for me was in composition, which is my recollection, the UW-SP Wind Ensemble. and, along with my advisor, Thomas Canning, it would be nice to see that recognized and While a student at the Eastman School, I guided me through the pitfalls of academia. perhaps a review would ascertain whether had the extreme pleasure of taking a bibliog- In 1985 I was head of the music depart- Eastman awarded similar degrees to any raphy class with Dr. Watanabe. I purchased ment at Alleghany College. My artist-in- other women during the ’40s and ’50s. her book, utilized it when I studied toward residence, Alec Chien, was going to be —Florence Lockridge (MAS ’49) a doctorate at the University of Colorado in married in a town just outside Rochester. Maryville, TN Boulder, and still refer to it as a researcher. After the wedding, my wife and I took a trip She was scholarly, knowing, and effervescent to Eastman ... The place was so changed Ruth Shaw Wylie did receive a PhD in compo- in class, always keeping an open relationship I hardly recognized it. As we turned to go, sition from Eastman in 1943. We’ll research to with her students in the seminar. Ruth was coming down the street. She recog- see if any other women received this degree in —Geary Larrick (DMA ’70) nized me and we fell into a wonderful topic the ’40s and ’50s, and report on it in a future Stevens Point, WI of “old times.” We discussed the School, her issue of Notes.